Panel connection



June 29, 1943. BARRY 2,323,272

PANEL CONNECTION Filed Nov. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 63 CD Q o ua 20 f9 f9 INVENTOR. AD/CHARD .1 5A R/w ATTORNEYS.

June 29, 1943. R J BARRY 2,323,272

PANEL CONNECTION Filed Nov. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YINVENTOR. AD/CHA P0 J 5A Mx I kg w A TTOR/VZYS.

NI TNESS.

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Patented June 29, 1943 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PANEL CONNECTION Richard J. Barry, New York, N. Y., assignor to Walter Edward Irving, Glenbrook, Conn.

Application November-.20, 1942, Serial No. 466,346

.. 10 Claims.

This inventionfirelates to improvements in panel connections and'has particular reference to coupling means for connecting adjacent metal plate panels together to form an emergency airfield landing mat. 2

I-leretofore, steel plate landing mat panels have been coupled together by a fastening means embodying' pointed hooks disposed along their outer edges. "Sucha coupling'has not proven satisfactory, due in part, to the fact that the hooks become bentfin transit and during handling,

which 'makes'ltdifficult to efiect a quick couplihg when the panels arelaid side by side to term anemergenc'y landing field. for airplanes.

Furthermore, the aforesaid coupling means embodying ti epo'inted 'ho'oks are likely to cause body injurytopersonshandling the same and to cause tearing ofthe clothes of persons handling the panels; Also, the jointsbetween adjacent plate panels are looseand the edges of the'panels protrude above the'tracticn surface, and it is diflic'ult to remove a panel which might become damaged: Therefore; the primary object of this inventionis to provid'e'a' coupling means for, steel plate a landing mat panels which eliminate sharp projections a'longthe sides "of the panels to prevent- :injury and tearing of the clothes of a xawearerp -to expedite' the coupling of the mat I panels in the :field; to=providea tight rigid connection;- between the connected panels; and to permit the quick and: easyeremoval of any dama aged panels without disturbingor damaging any adjacentpanelL-w Y coupling means for p ate: panel which permit of they novel lapping of; the joints between adjacent H nieansoi any'strainsfii d stresses which might tend to cause loosenihgof the same. "A s'till"fu1ther feature oi the invention. is to hi qrihei b iel ii l m a -5' et, i rth in my co- 'eiid hg patentapplicaticn for Grating, Serial No? 4313503, filed 'FebruaryflS, 1 9.42, in' an emerency" airfield landing matfmade r metal plate ['panels v j Additional featur'esbf,theinventionare to prothe invention resides in a panels, with. theupper exposedsurfaces of the come apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a plurality of metal plate panels about to be coupled together.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 1 showing the several panels connected together.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of igure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure}, but taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational perspective view of the locking edges 01' two adjacent panels, said panels being in separated position and looking at the underside thereof.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating a modified form of coupling element.

Figure 81s a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of panel alining means, parts being broken away in section.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail vertical transverse sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, th letters A, B, and C, represent three separate panels constructed in accordance with the invention, and which are to be coupled together to provide a continuous airplane landing mat for emergency airflelds, for flooring and armorlng industrial floors, etc. Whereas the invention about to be described is adaptable for use as a portable horizontal landing field for aircraft, it is to be understood that panels for other purposes, such as partition structures and the like may be releasably joined together and the panels arranged in vertical position rather than in the horizontal position shown in the drawings.

Each of the mat panels comprises a rectangular rigid plate It and for use in the construction of a landing mat, the plate I0 is of steel of approximately one-eighth inch in thickness. The longitudinal edge ll of the plate III is free, whereas the opposite longitudinal edge is down? wardlyoifset to provide a shouldered seat I! extending the full length of the plate Integral with the offset edge is a depending flange l3, the

vide a metal plate panel and coupling means thererorwwmc is relativelylight in'weight, easy topack" up onfthe other; and simple and" inexpensive "ofmanu facture;

Other 'nover'reaturs ora int nded winjbeplateand which constitutes a supporting leg} In instances where the invention is used as for'example, a vertical partition structure, the flange l3 may be dispensed with. Arranged at equidistantly spaced relation alongthe offset edge of the plate I0 are pairs of opposed slots l,the

Arranged parallel to the free edge II of the plate III and disposed adjacent to said edge, is a row of elongated slots I8, the said slotsbeing transversely alined with the coupling elements I5. The material between the slots I8 and the adjacent edge II constitutes web portions I 9 and slidably connected with the web portions I9 are C-shaped metal coupling members 20. The open sides of the coupling members 2!) face in the direction of the coupling elements IS with which they are adapted to clampingly engage. The coupling members 2|] are free to slide on the webs I9 for the length of the slots I8 and each coupling member 20 is of a cross sectional dimension to slidably embrace its supporting web I9 and the thickness of a coupling element In order to lighten the weight of the plate. III, the same is provided with three longitudinal rows of equi-distantly spaced transversely alined openings 2|; said openings also permitting grass to grow therethrough when the panels are used as an emergency landing field to provide a camouflage therefor. In order to strengthen the plate III, the same is formed between adjacent rows of openings 2| with downwardly punched ribs 22, the ends of which may terminate short of the ends of the plate III.

Each panel has index lugs or tongues 24 bent from the plat I adjacent its ends and adjacent the edge II. The offset edge I2 at spaced distances apart adjacent the mid portion of the length thereof has slots 25 therein. The legs 25 of one panel interfit with the slots 25 of an adjacent panel to effect an alinement of the coupling slide members 20 of one panel with the coupling elements I of an adjacent panel.

In practice, the panels A, B, and C in Fig. 1 are about to be coupled totgether, the panels A and B being arranged in end to end relation with the panel C lapping said ends and adapted to be coupled to the adjacent side edges of the panels A and B. With the adjacent ends of the panels A and B abutting, the edges II of said panels are lapped over the offset seat I2 of the panel C with the coupling slide members being disposed adjacent one of the ends of the slots It. The panels may be tilted on end to cause all the coupling members 20 to slide to their release position as shown in Figure 1. With the coupling slide members 20 in this position, the panels are initially connected by causing the lugs 24 of one panel to interfit with the slots of an adjacent overlapping panel whereupon the open sides of the C-shaped coupling members respectively aline with the reduced portions ll of coupling elements I5. An operator may now strike each coupling slide member 20 to slide it toward the tapered portion H to cause the same to ride over the tapered portion and onto the wide body portion of the element I5, at which time the C-shaped coupling member clamps the underside of the element I5 against the adjacent web I9. It will thus' b understood that after Figure 3. This deforming of the element I5 prevents accidental sliding of the coupling slide member 20 to a releasing position. When it is desired to disconnect adjacent panels, a blow may be imparted to the upper exposed edge portionof each coupling member 20 slide the same toward the releasing end of the slot I8.

The flanges I3 have been referred to as supporting feet for the purpos of supporting the plates above the plane of a supporting surface, but when in use as a landing mat for aircraft, the flanges I3 will become embedded in the ground and act as anchors against the force imparted to the panels during the landing of an aircraft on the landing mat. In practice, the plane is intended to land in a direction transverse to the length of the panels and by offsetting one of the edges of each panel to receive the thickness of th lapping edge of an adjacent panel, the smooth joint is provided between the panels. The upper surface of the panels forming a landing mat are on substantially the same plane which permits of easy riding of the landing wheels of an airplane over the landing mat.

While the lapping of the end edges of the panels A and B by the panel C on one side thereof and by a similar lapping and coupling panel along the other side of panels A and B, a tight coupling is effected between the panels, I wish it to be understood that the coupling elements I5 and 20 may be provided along the meeting end edges of the panels A and B if so desired.

In Figure 7 of the drawings is illustrated a modified form of coupling element I5 formed by means of the spaced slots I4 disposed along the offset flange I2 of a plate III. The coupling elements I5 are in the form of pointed tongues and are the equivalent to the coupling elements I5 aforementioned. By the use of the tongue coupling elements I5, the mouth openings of the C-shaped coupling elements 20 may be closed to provide a closed slide ring.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of panel alining means which may be used in lieu of the tongues 24 and slots 25 aforementioned. In this form the offset flange I2 is provided with spaced slots 25'- while the opposite edge II has suitably spaced apart offset tongues 24'. The tongues 24 and slots 25' of the overlapping edges of adjacent panels will effect an alinement of the coupling slide members 20 with the reduced portions I6 of the coupling elements I5, to expedite the coupling of the panels together. the others is necessary to insert the offset tongues 24' into the slots 25', after which the panel may be swung to a plane with the panel or panels to which it is to be fixedly coupled.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in construction and design as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I A slight tilting of one pane1 relative to claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A panel comprising a rectangular shaped metal plate having an integral flange extending at right angle therefrom along one of the longitudinal edges thereof, said plate and flange having sets of transversely alined cut-away portions defining coupling elements, each of the coupling elements having a reduced tapered portion, the plate adjacent its other longitudinal side edges having slots therein defining with said edge, elongated web portions, and C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted on said web portions and having their open sides facing in the same direction as the flange, whereby the C-shaped coupling members may be brought into coupling relation with the coupling elements of a companion panel when two or more panels are to be fixedly connected together with their opposite longitudinal edges in overlapping relation.

2. A panel as set forth in claim 1 in which the longitudinal flange edge of the plate is offset in the direction in which the flange extends to pro-- vide a shouldered seat for the overlapping edge of a companion panel.

3. In combination, a pair of metal plates having straight complementary overlapping side edges, portions of the under edge of one plate being cut away to define a tapered coupling element extending in a direction parallel to said edge, the upper overlapping edge of the other plate being slotted to define an elongated web, and a ring-like coupling slide member slidably mounted on said web to receive the reduced portion of the same to enable the coupling slide 1 member to be slid to a coupling position to clampingly embrace the wider portion of the tapered coupling element to rigidly secure the overlapping edges of the two panels together.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3, which is characterized by offsetting the underlapping edge of the one plate to provide a shouldered seat for the overlapping edge of the other plate.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 3 in which the overlapping edges of the plates are provided with interfitting means to effect an alinement of the coupling slide members with the respective reduced portions of the coupling elements preparatory to the sliding of the coupling slide members to coupling position.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 3 in which the overlapping edges of the plates are provided with interfitting tongues and slots to effect an initial coupling of the panels and to aline the coupling slide members with the respective reduced portions of the coupling elements preparatory to the sliding of the coupling slide members to coupling position.

7. A portable landing mat comprising in combination, a fiat rigid panel, a companion panel ,slida-bly engaged for rigidly coupling the panels together.

8. A portable airplane landing mat comprising, in combination, panels having substantially flat face portions disposed in flat-wise overlapping relation, and interlocking means provided along overlapping edges of the face portions of the panels for rigidly coupling the same together, said interlocking means comprising a slide element captively mounted on one face portion for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said face portion, said slide element engaging a tongue element on the other face portion.

9. A portable airplane landing mat comprising, in combination, panels having substantially flat face portions disposed in flat-wise overlapping relation, and interlocking means provided along overlapping edges of theface portions of the panels for rigidly coupling the same together, said interlocking means comprising a slide element captively mounted on one face portion for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said face portion, said slide element engaging a tongue element on the other face portion, and interfitting means provided along the overlapping edges of the panels for alining the interlocking means preparatory to the actuation of the same to coupling position.

10. A portable airplane landing mat comprising, in combination, panels having substantially fiat face portions disposed in fiat-wise overlapping relation, and interlocking means provided along overlapping edges of the face portions of the panels for rigidly coupling the same together, said interlocking means comprising a slide element captively mounted on one face portion for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said face portion, said slide element engaging a tongue element on the other face portion, and interfitting means provided along the overlapping edges of the panels for alining the interlocking means preparatory to.

the actuation of the same to coupling position, said interfitting means comprising spaced tongues provided on one of the panels, the other of the panels having spaced slots therein for respectively receiving said spaced tongues.

RICHARD J. BARRY. 

